Return to Headlines
Dec. 10, 2024
Pinellas FIRST® LEGO® League teams competed last weekend, and seven qualified for the regional tournament in the Challenge division! FIRST® (For Inspiration & Recognition of Science & Technology) is a robotics program designed to attract the interest of young students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
Congratulations to the teams receiving "Golden Tickets" to the Regional Championships:
- Clearwater Fundamental Middle – Radioactive Trash Pandas - Teacher/Coach: Rick Preil
- Perkins Elementary – Ware's Wizards - Teacher/Coaches: Anne Ware and Madison Caffey
- John Hopkins Middle – Techno Trojans-Teacher/Coaches: Donna Jo East and Ivo Decarlis
- Safety Harbor Middle – Brick Rays -Teacher/Coach: Jodi Diaz (team sponsor Tampa Bay Rays)
- East Lake Middle – Engineer Eagles - Teacher/Coach: Mike Dority
- Fitzgerald Middle – Fitzgerald Phantoms - Teacher/Coach: Chelsea Hinkins
- Osceola Middle – Osceola Middle School Chiefs - Teacher/Coaches: Camille Costi and Jami Waddell
Two of the teams also won special awards:
- Perkins Elementary team won the Excellence in Engineering Award and the Coach/Mentor Award.
- Safety Harbor Middle Brick Rays won the Robot Design Award.
The teams will compete in the FIRST LEGO West Florida Regional Championship on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
Clearwater Fundamental
Perkins Elementary
John Hopkins Middle
Safety Harbor Middle
East Lake Middle
Fitzgerald Middle
